Switch and signal mechanism.



No. 628,638. Patented July Il, |899.,

V. K. SPICER.

SWITCH AND SIGNAL MECHANISM. y

(Application iled May 23, 1899.) N o vM u d el.)

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WITNESSES:

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VIBE K. SPIOER, OF KENILWORTH, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO TIIEv UNION SWITOII AND SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SVVISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA.

SWITCH AND SIGNAL MECHANISNI.

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters Patent N0. 628,638, dated July 11, 1899.

l Application filed May 23, 1899. Serial No. 717,904. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, VIBE K. SPICER, a citizen of the United States, residingat Kenilworth, in the coun ty of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Switch and Signal Apparatus,of which improvements the following is a specification.

In applications of even date herewith I have described and shown certain improvements in switch and signal mechanism having for their objects the locking up of the switch mechanism in reverse position by a lock independent of the ordinary interlocking mechanism and which will maintain the switch mechanism in reverse position for a certain predetermined time, even after the signal mechanism has been restored to normal position, and thereby unlock, as regards the ordinary interlocking mechanism, the switch mechanism. In the applications referred to I have claimed broadly and specifically mechanisms for effecting the above-described operation, and the invention described herein relates to certain further improvements in that class of mechanisms.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a switch and signal apparatus having my improvement applied thereto, and Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a portion of such apparatus.

In the practice of my invention the switch and signal levers 4 4a are provided with the usual latch-rods 3 and 8, which engage the quadrants 2 2n for the purpose of shifting the latter and through suitable connections therefrom the slides l la, &c., of the interlocking mechanism. On the slides l l, &c., are secured blocks 5, 5, and 5b, with which lockingbars 6 and 7 engage when properly shifted, and thereby prevent the movement of the switch-levers. As will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, the switch-lever is first shifted from normal position in the orderly operation of the machine, and then the signal-lever is shifted from normal position, and thereby, through suitable connections, so moving the locking-bar 6 longitudinally that its front end will project across the path of movement ofthe block 5n on the slide l,which,

as stated, is connected to the quadrant 2 of the switch-lever. While the signal-lever is in reverse position, the switch-lever will be held as against any movement from reverse position, but can be moved as soon as the signal-lever has returned to normal. In order to prevent the immediate return of the switchlever to normal position, and thereby affording opportunity to the operator to take a second thought as regards the proposed change of the previously-given route, an additionallock is provided. This lock, as stated in the applications referred to, may be applied to any moving part of the switch-operating mechanism or its interlocking devices, but is preferably applied to an independent lock such, for example, as the bar 7-which is so arranged on the machine that it can be moved longitudinally into the path of movement of the block 5 on the switch-slide l. This longitudinal movement of the locking-bar 7 and its locking in its shifted position can be effected by a vertically-movable locking-bar, as set forth in the applications referred to, said bar being operated by the devices to be hereinafter described; but it is preferred to edect such longitudinal movement by a bell-crank lever 8. This lever is pivotally mounted on the frame of the machine and has one end loosely connected to the rear end of the sliding bar 7, while its opposite end is similarly connected to the rod 9 of the piston IO. This piston is arranged within a cylinder 1l, provided at its lower end with an admission-valve'lQ, which will allow the free inward flow of fluid, but will prevent a return or outward flow thereof. The escape of iluid from the cylinder 1l is permitted by a valved port, preferably in the valve l2, said port being provided with a valve 13. This valve is adjustable by means of a nut or other suitable device in relation to its seat, so that the rapidity of flow through the port can be controlled. The portion of the cylinder below the valve 12 is connected in any suitable manner--such, for example, as that shown-t'. e., a pipe 14-to the upper end of apump-cylinder l. The piston of this cylinder has its stem 16 connected to one arm of the bell-crank lever 17, while the opposite end thereof is connected by the rod 1S to the signal-lever 4.

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In such a construction the movement of the signal-lever 4 from normal position will force the pump-piston up, thereby causing any Huid contained in the pump-cylinder to `iow into the lower portion of the cylinder 1l and, passing the valve 12, cause an upward movement of the piston l and the consequent shifting of the locking-bar 7, so that it will project into the path of movement of the block on the switch-slide l. If the signalleVer be returned to normal position, it will leave a Vacuum in the upper portion of the pump-cylinder, and into this vacuum will flow the fluid from the cylinder 1l. This flow, as stated, is controlled entirely by the adjustment lof the valve 13, as the valve l2 will be seated as soon as the pump-piston vis moved down. In ord-er to allow the free downward movement of the pump-piston, a normally o pen Valve 19 is arranged in the upper end of the pump-cylinder. This valve is constructed to be seated as the pump-piston moves up, so as to prevent the escape of liquid from the pump-cylinder. If desired, air may be employed, it being admitted to the pump-cylinder through the valve 19 as the pump-piston movesdown. VIn such case the air need not be returned to the pump-cylinder, but can be allowed to escape from the cylinder 1l tothe open air.

Ivclaim herein as my invention-` l. In a switch and signal apparatus, the combination of a switch-operating mechanism, a lock for holding the switch mechanism in normal position, and a 'fluid-pressure meollanism for shifting said lock and holding it in such position for a predetermined time, substantiallyas set forth.

2. In a switch and signal apparatus, the combination of a switch-lever, a signal-lever, an interlocking mechanism for said levers, a lock adapted to engage one of the parts of the interlocking mechanism controlling the switch-lever, a cylinder having its pi-ston conneoted to said lock, a valved outlet for said cylinder, and means controlled by thesignallcverfor forcing {iuid into said cylinder, subl stantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

VIBE K. SPICER. Witnesses:

E. T. BARNES, J. XV. PECK. 

